{"id":737,"date":"2025-09-17T00:08:42","date_gmt":"2025-09-17T07:08:42","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/smilegodlovesyou.org\/devotionals\/?p=737"},"modified":"2025-09-16T18:22:03","modified_gmt":"2025-09-17T01:22:03","slug":"september-17-ask-seek-knock-pray-against-evil-temptations","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/smilegodlovesyou.org\/devotionals\/september-17-ask-seek-knock-pray-against-evil-temptations\/","title":{"rendered":"SEPTEMBER 17\u2014ASK-SEEK-KNOCK\u2014Pray Against Evil Temptations"},"content":{"rendered":"<p><em>\u201cWatch and pray, lest you enter into temptation. The spirit indeed is willing, but the flesh is weak.\u201d\u00a0 <\/em>Mark 14:38<\/p>\n<p>There are many temptations daily that can lead us believers astray.<br \/>\n1John 2:16 says: <em>For all that\u00a0is\u00a0in the world\u2014the\u00a0lust\u00a0of\u00a0the flesh, the\u00a0lust\u00a0of\u00a0the eyes, and the pride\u00a0of\u00a0life\u2014is not\u00a0of\u00a0the Father but is\u00a0of\u00a0the world. <\/em><br \/>\nThat is why Jesus said we should \u201c<em>watch and pray<\/em>\u201d that we don\u2019t fall into temptation, for He knew our flesh is weak.\u00a0\u00a0 Even Paul, the Apostle, knew he had weakness in his flesh, for he said in Romans 7:19 \u00a0<strong><sup>\u00a0\u201c<\/sup><\/strong><em>For the good that I will\u00a0to do,<\/em>\u00a0I do not do; but the evil I will not\u00a0to do,\u00a0that I practice.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>Paul knew that only through Jesus Christ could he be delivered from evil temptations and sin and that is also our hope and belief as believers.<\/p>\n<p>Not only will we be tempted by our weak flesh, but we will also be tempted by the world and the devil. \u00a0Jesus Himself was tempted in the wilderness by satan, and so will we be also, therefore, we need to heed Jesus\u2019 words <em>\u201cto watch and pray\u201d<\/em> daily.<\/p>\n<p>Dear God,<\/p>\n<ul>\n<li>I pray that You will lead me away from temptation and keep me from evil.<\/li>\n<li>Strengthen my flesh so I do not fall into worldly desires.<\/li>\n<li>Protect me from satan\u2019s snares.<\/li>\n<li>Keep me alert to the dangers in this world daily.<\/li>\n<li>I want to keep my heart pure.<\/li>\n<li>I want to do Your way and will.<\/li>\n<li>I don\u2019t want to stray from the path of righteousness that is in Christ.<\/li>\n<li>Help me to keep my eyes on things above and not on things on earth.<\/li>\n<li>But if I do stumble and fall, I pray that You will be there to forgive me and pick me up, as I repent and return to You.<\/li>\n<li>Thank You God for Your abounding mercy and manifold grace.<\/li>\n<li>In Jesus name I pray.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p>(prayer based on Matthew 6:13, Philippians 4:13, Psalm 91:3, 1Peter 5:8, 2Timothy 2:22, Psalm 40:8, John 14:6, Romans 6:13, Colossians 3:2, 1John 1:9, Psalm 103:8, 1Peter 4:10)<\/p>\n<p><em>\u00a92023 SGLY Ministry\u00a0\u00a0 <\/em><a href=\"http:\/\/www.smilegodlovesyou.org\"><em>www.smilegodlovesyou.org<\/em><\/a><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>\u201cWatch and pray, lest you enter into temptation. The spirit indeed is willing, but the flesh is weak.\u201d\u00a0 Mark 14:38 There are many temptations daily that can lead us believers astray. 1John 2:16 says: For all that\u00a0is\u00a0in the world\u2014the\u00a0lust\u00a0of\u00a0the flesh, the\u00a0lust\u00a0of\u00a0the eyes, and the pride\u00a0of\u00a0life\u2014is not\u00a0of\u00a0the Father but is\u00a0of\u00a0the world. That is why Jesus said&#8230;<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":739,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_jetpack_memberships_contains_paid_content":false,"footnotes":""},"categories":[948],"tags":[779,1105,841,1116,1117,949,1119,3,1111,1113,1110,306,1104,1114,509,1106,211,495,1115,1118,1112,3308,30,57,32,1108,1107,1109],"class_list":["post-737","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-ask-seek-knock","tag-1john-19","tag-1john-216","tag-1peter-410","tag-1peter-58","tag-2timothy-222","tag-ask-seek-knock","tag-colossians-62","tag-daily-devotionals","tag-devil","tag-evil","tag-flesh","tag-john-146","tag-mark-1438","tag-matthew-613","tag-philippians-413","tag-pray-against-evil-temptations","tag-psalm-1038","tag-psalm-408","tag-psalm-913","tag-romans-613","tag-satans-snares","tag-september-2025","tag-sgly-ministry","tag-sin","tag-smile-god-loves-you","tag-temptation","tag-watch-and-pray","tag-world"],"jetpack_featured_media_url":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/smilegodlovesyou.org\/devotionals\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/09\/ASK-SEEK-KNOCK-Mark-1438.png?fit=300%2C300&ssl=1","jetpack-related-posts":[{"id":767,"url":"https:\/\/smilegodlovesyou.org\/devotionals\/september-26-ask-seek-knock-pray-for-new-believers\/","url_meta":{"origin":737,"position":0},"title":"SEPTEMBER 26\u2014ASK-SEEK-KNOCK\u2014Pray for New Believers","author":"SGLY Devotionals","date":"September 26, 2025","format":false,"excerpt":"We give thanks to the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, praying always for you, since we heard of your faith in Christ Jesus...\u00a0 Colossians 1:3-4 The Parable of the Sower-- Luke 8:4-8 \u201cA sower went out to sow his seed. And as he sowed, some fell by\u2026","rel":"","context":"In &quot;Ask-Seek-Knock&quot;","block_context":{"text":"Ask-Seek-Knock","link":"https:\/\/smilegodlovesyou.org\/devotionals\/category\/ask-seek-knock\/"},"img":{"alt_text":"","src":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/smilegodlovesyou.org\/devotionals\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/09\/ASK-SEEK-KNOCK-Colossians-13-4.png?fit=300%2C300&ssl=1&resize=350%2C200","width":350,"height":200},"classes":[]},{"id":764,"url":"https:\/\/smilegodlovesyou.org\/devotionals\/september-25-ask-seek-knock-pray-about-matters-troubling-you\/","url_meta":{"origin":737,"position":1},"title":"SEPTEMBER 25\u2014ASK-SEEK-KNOCK\u2014Pray About Matters Troubling You","author":"SGLY Devotionals","date":"September 25, 2025","format":false,"excerpt":"Cast all your care upon Him, because He cares for you.\u00a0 1Peter 5:7 Today we are focusing our prayers on anything that might be troubling us.\u00a0 The Lord does not want us to be troubled, worried and fretting about things, for it accomplishes nothing and just causes stress and strife.\u2026","rel":"","context":"In &quot;Ask-Seek-Knock&quot;","block_context":{"text":"Ask-Seek-Knock","link":"https:\/\/smilegodlovesyou.org\/devotionals\/category\/ask-seek-knock\/"},"img":{"alt_text":"","src":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/smilegodlovesyou.org\/devotionals\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/09\/ASK-SEEK-KNOCK-1-Peter-57.png?fit=300%2C300&ssl=1&resize=350%2C200","width":350,"height":200},"classes":[]},{"id":1680,"url":"https:\/\/smilegodlovesyou.org\/devotionals\/august-27-psalms-prayer-pocket-day-27-2\/","url_meta":{"origin":737,"position":2},"title":"August 28&#8211;Psalms Prayer Pocket&#8211;Day 28","author":"SGLY Devotionals","date":"August 28, 2025","format":false,"excerpt":"A Psalms Prayer Pocket for when you are: TEMPTED Set a guard, O Lord, over my mouth; Keep watch over the door of my lips, Do not incline my heart to any evil thing...Psalm 141:3-4 (NKJV) In this world there will always be temptations that will come upon us.\u00a0 The\u2026","rel":"","context":"In &quot;Psalms Prayer Pockets&quot;","block_context":{"text":"Psalms Prayer Pockets","link":"https:\/\/smilegodlovesyou.org\/devotionals\/category\/psalms-prayer-pockets\/"},"img":{"alt_text":"PPP-28-Tempted-Psalm-141.3-4","src":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/smilegodlovesyou.org\/devotionals\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/08\/PPP-28-Tempted-Psalm-141.3-4-1.jpg?fit=422%2C422&ssl=1&resize=350%2C200","width":350,"height":200},"classes":[]},{"id":2368,"url":"https:\/\/smilegodlovesyou.org\/devotionals\/january-13-walk-in-the-spirit-galatians-516\/","url_meta":{"origin":737,"position":3},"title":"January 13\u2014Walk in the Spirit\u2014Galatians 5:16.","author":"SGLY Devotionals","date":"January 13, 2026","format":false,"excerpt":"Walk in the Spirit. This I say then, Walk in the Spirit, and ye shall not fulfil the lust of the flesh.\u00a0 Galatians 5:16. What is \u201cthe lust of the flesh\u201d? 1John 2:16 says it is something that comes from the world not from the Father. Physical Cravings This can\u2026","rel":"","context":"In &quot;Walking With God&quot;","block_context":{"text":"Walking With God","link":"https:\/\/smilegodlovesyou.org\/devotionals\/category\/walking-with-god\/"},"img":{"alt_text":"Walk-in-the-Spirit--Galatians-5.16","src":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/smilegodlovesyou.org\/devotionals\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/01\/Walk-in-the-Spirit-Galatians-5.16.jpg?fit=354%2C472&ssl=1&resize=350%2C200","width":350,"height":200},"classes":[]},{"id":752,"url":"https:\/\/smilegodlovesyou.org\/devotionals\/september-21-ask-seek-knock-pray-for-revival-in-this-generation\/","url_meta":{"origin":737,"position":4},"title":"SEPTEMBER 21\u2014ASK-SEEK-KNOCK\u2014Pray for Revival in This Generation","author":"SGLY Devotionals","date":"September 21, 2025","format":false,"excerpt":"Will You not revive us and bring us to life again, That Your people may rejoice in You?\u00a0 Psalm 85:6 Today we are praying for revival in this generation.\u00a0 We should be praying for this daily, so let\u2019s focus on this today and then make it a point to pray\u2026","rel":"","context":"In &quot;Ask-Seek-Knock&quot;","block_context":{"text":"Ask-Seek-Knock","link":"https:\/\/smilegodlovesyou.org\/devotionals\/category\/ask-seek-knock\/"},"img":{"alt_text":"","src":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/smilegodlovesyou.org\/devotionals\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/09\/ASK-SEEK-KNOCK-Psalm-856-.png?fit=300%2C300&ssl=1&resize=350%2C200","width":350,"height":200},"classes":[]},{"id":621,"url":"https:\/\/smilegodlovesyou.org\/devotionals\/september-2-ask-seek-knock-prayer-for-christian-leaders\/","url_meta":{"origin":737,"position":5},"title":"SEPTEMBER 2\u2014ASK-SEEK-KNOCK\u2014 Prayer for Christian Leaders","author":"SGLY Devotionals","date":"September 2, 2025","format":false,"excerpt":"I urge you, believers, by our Lord Jesus Christ and by the love of the Spirit, to join together with me in your prayers to God in my\u00a0behalf, Romans 15:30 Today let\u2019s pray for our Christian Leaders, our Pastor, Sunday School Teachers, Bible Study Leaders, Bible College Instructors, and\/or any\u2026","rel":"","context":"In &quot;Ask-Seek-Knock&quot;","block_context":{"text":"Ask-Seek-Knock","link":"https:\/\/smilegodlovesyou.org\/devotionals\/category\/ask-seek-knock\/"},"img":{"alt_text":"","src":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/smilegodlovesyou.org\/devotionals\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/09\/ASK-SEEK-KNOCK-2-Romans-1530.png?fit=300%2C300&ssl=1&resize=350%2C200","width":350,"height":200},"classes":[]}],"jetpack_sharing_enabled":true,"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/smilegodlovesyou.org\/devotionals\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/737","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/smilegodlovesyou.org\/devotionals\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/smilegodlovesyou.org\/devotionals\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/smilegodlovesyou.org\/devotionals\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/smilegodlovesyou.org\/devotionals\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=737"}],"version-history":[{"count":1,"href":"https:\/\/smilegodlovesyou.org\/devotionals\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/737\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":738,"href":"https:\/\/smilegodlovesyou.org\/devotionals\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/737\/revisions\/738"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/smilegodlovesyou.org\/devotionals\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/739"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/smilegodlovesyou.org\/devotionals\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=737"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/smilegodlovesyou.org\/devotionals\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=737"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/smilegodlovesyou.org\/devotionals\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=737"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}